ANSEL ADAMSANSEL ADAMSFeb 20, 1902 – Apr 22, 1984Feb 20, 1902 – Apr 22, 1984

Early Childhood:Early Childhood:

• Born in San FranciscoBorn in San Francisco

• Sand Dunes of Golden GateSand Dunes of Golden Gate

• Age 4 – Earthquake (broken nose)Age 4 – Earthquake (broken nose)

• Problems fitting in at schoolProblems fitting in at school

• Considered hyperactive, dyslexia, Considered hyperactive, dyslexia, shy and intensity of geniusshy and intensity of genius

• HomeschooledHomeschooled

General Timeline:General Timeline:• 19021902 - Ansel Easton Adams born on February 20, at 114 Maple Street, San Francisco, - Ansel Easton Adams born on February 20, at 114 Maple Street, San Francisco,

the only child of Olive and Charles the only child of Olive and Charles

• 19151915 - Despises the regimentation of a regular education, and is taken out of school. - Despises the regimentation of a regular education, and is taken out of school. For that year, his father buys him a season pass to the Panama-Pacific Exposition, For that year, his father buys him a season pass to the Panama-Pacific Exposition, which he visits nearly every day. Private tutors provide further instruction.which he visits nearly every day. Private tutors provide further instruction.

• 1916: 1916: Family Trip to Yosemite, Californina.Family Trip to Yosemite, Californina.

•1925: 1925: Decides to become a pianist. Buys a grand piano.Decides to become a pianist. Buys a grand piano.

• 1927: 1927: First acknowledged photograph.First acknowledged photograph.

• 19401940 - Teaches first Yosemite workshop, the U. S. Camera Photographic Forum, in - Teaches first Yosemite workshop, the U. S. Camera Photographic Forum, in Yosemite with Edward Weston. Yosemite with Edward Weston.

• 19531953 he collaborated with Dorothea Lange on a Life commission for a photo essay on he collaborated with Dorothea Lange on a Life commission for a photo essay on the Mormons in Utah the Mormons in Utah

•In In 19621962 Adams moved to Carmel, California, where in 1967 he was instrumental in Adams moved to Carmel, California, where in 1967 he was instrumental in the foundation of the Friends of Photographythe foundation of the Friends of Photography

• 19841984 - Dies April 22 of heart failure aggravated by cancer - Dies April 22 of heart failure aggravated by cancer

YosemiteYosemite

• ““My life was colored and modulated My life was colored and modulated by the great earth gesture of the by the great earth gesture of the Yosemite Sierra”Yosemite Sierra”

• 1919 joined Sierra Club1919 joined Sierra Club• Met his wife (Virginia Best) at Met his wife (Virginia Best) at

Yosemite, son was born thereYosemite, son was born there• First photographs and writings were First photographs and writings were

published in Sierra Club 1922 Bulletinpublished in Sierra Club 1922 Bulletin

YosemiteYosemite

• 1934 Elected to Sierra Club Board of 1934 Elected to Sierra Club Board of DirectorsDirectors

• Established as both the artist and Established as both the artist and defender of Yosemitedefender of Yosemite

• 1936 represent club at conference in 1936 represent club at conference in Washington to purpose Kings River Washington to purpose Kings River Sierra Wilderness ParkSierra Wilderness Park

• Sierra Club director until 1971Sierra Club director until 1971

Brower – First Executive Brower – First Executive Director of Sierra Club wrote:Director of Sierra Club wrote:

““It is hard to tell which has shaped It is hard to tell which has shaped the other more – Ansel Adams or the other more – Ansel Adams or the Sierra Club.”the Sierra Club.”

Influences:Influences:

• 1927 – Met Albert Bender – patron of arts 1927 – Met Albert Bender – patron of arts who published Adam’s first portfoliowho published Adam’s first portfolio

• 1927 – Met photographer Edward Weston – 1927 – Met photographer Edward Weston – made Group f/64 – new West Coast vision made Group f/64 – new West Coast vision of straight photography, which brought of straight photography, which brought national attention and influencenational attention and influence

• 1930 – Met photographer Paul Strand – 1930 – Met photographer Paul Strand – move away from pictorial style and move away from pictorial style and pursued “straight photography”pursued “straight photography”

Influences:Influences:

• 1933 – Met artist Alfred Stieglitz on a trip to 1933 – Met artist Alfred Stieglitz on a trip to New York – Adams admired his commitment New York – Adams admired his commitment to the medium he consciously insightfulto the medium he consciously insightful

• 1950’s and 1960’s – worked with Nancy 1950’s and 1960’s – worked with Nancy Newhall to create books and exhibitions – Newhall to create books and exhibitions – including “This is the American Earth” – including “This is the American Earth” – coexisted with Rachel Carlson’s “Silent coexisted with Rachel Carlson’s “Silent Spring” – seminal role in launching the first Spring” – seminal role in launching the first broad based environmental movementbroad based environmental movement

Adam’s Passions:Adam’s Passions:

• Described himself as a photographer, Described himself as a photographer, lecturer, and writer – moreover a lecturer, and writer – moreover a communicatorcommunicator

• Yosemite National ParkYosemite National Park• National park systemNational park system• Preservation of wildernessPreservation of wilderness• Never made a creative photograph Never made a creative photograph

specifically for environmental purposesspecifically for environmental purposes

Legacies:Legacies:

• PhotographyPhotography

• Technical Mastery – used by Polaroid Technical Mastery – used by Polaroid and Hasselblad – as well as many and Hasselblad – as well as many teaching institutionsteaching institutions

• Sierra Club influenceSierra Club influence

• Induction of Kings Canyon National Induction of Kings Canyon National ParkPark

• Referred to as “the visual John Muir”Referred to as “the visual John Muir”

MOONRISE – 1941 (Page MOONRISE – 1941 (Page 175)175)

• ““Rule of Thirds”Rule of Thirds”

• Most famous photographMost famous photograph

• Adams said when he took it “he felt Adams said when he took it “he felt an almost prophetic sense of an almost prophetic sense of satisfaction”satisfaction”

MONOLITH – 1927 (Page 35)MONOLITH – 1927 (Page 35)

• 25 years old and weighed 125 lbs when 25 years old and weighed 125 lbs when was hiking and took this picturewas hiking and took this picture

• Described it as “wondrous place … a great Described it as “wondrous place … a great shelf of granite, slightly overhanging, and shelf of granite, slightly overhanging, and nearly 4000 feet above its base … the nearly 4000 feet above its base … the most exciting subject awaiting me”most exciting subject awaiting me”

• Represents his first “visualization” conceptRepresents his first “visualization” concept

TRAILER CAMP CHILDREN – TRAILER CAMP CHILDREN – 1944 (Page 248)1944 (Page 248)

• Unusual photograph because not of natureUnusual photograph because not of nature

• Outspoken in political viewsOutspoken in political views

• ““American society has consistently overlooked American society has consistently overlooked the enormous importance of the farmer, the the enormous importance of the farmer, the technician, the educator, the artist, and the technician, the educator, the artist, and the laborer …. I’m calling for greater equality to all laborer …. I’m calling for greater equality to all citizens.”citizens.”

Quotes by Ansel:Quotes by Ansel:

• ““A good photograph is knowing where to stand”A good photograph is knowing where to stand”

• ““A true photograph need not to be explained, A true photograph need not to be explained, nor can it be contained in words.”nor can it be contained in words.”

• ““It is horrifying that we have to fight our own It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment.”government to save the environment.”

• ““Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s Sometimes I do get to places just when God’s ready to have somebody click the shutter.”ready to have somebody click the shutter.”

Works Cited:Works Cited:

• http://www.anseladams.com/http://www.anseladams.com/• http://http://

www.hctc.commnet.edu/artmuseum/www.hctc.commnet.edu/artmuseum/anseladams.htmlanseladams.html

• http://www.historyplace.com/unitedsthttp://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/adams/index.htmlates/adams/index.html

• Adams, Ansel “Ansel Adams: 400 Adams, Ansel “Ansel Adams: 400 Photographs”, Photographs”, Little, Brown and Little, Brown and CompanyCompany, October, 2007. , October, 2007.